CHRIST’s Transfiguration.
LUKE ix. 28‒36.
_And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings,
he took |Peter| and |John| and |James|, and went up into
a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his
countenance was altered, and his rayment was white and
glistering. And behold, there talked with him two men, which
were |Moses| and |Elias|: who appeared in glory, and spake of
his decease, which he should accomplish at |Jerusalem|. But
|Peter| and they that were with him, were heavy with sleep:
and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men
that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed
from him, |Peter| said unto JESUS, Master, it is good for us
to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee,
and one for |Moses|, and one for |Elias|: not knowing what he
said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud and overshadowed
them, and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And
there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my
beloved Son, hear him. And when the voice was past, JESUS was
found alone; and they kept it close, and told no man in those
days any of those things which they had seen._
WHEN the angel was sent to the Redeemer’s beloved disciple _John_, we
are told that the angel said unto him, “Come up hither:” He was to be
exalted, to be brought nearer heaven, that his mind might be better
prepared for those great manifestations, which an infinitely great and
condescending GOD intended to vouchsafe him. And on reading the verses
that you have just now heard, when I also see such a great and serious
assembly convened in the presence of GOD, I think I must address you,
as the angel addressed _John_, and say unto you, “Come up hither;”
leave your worldly thoughts, for a time forget the earth. And as it
is the Lord’s-day, a time in which we ought more particularly to think
of heaven, I must desire you to pray to GOD, that ye may get up on
_Pisgah_’s mount, and take a view of the promised land. It is true,
indeed, eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, nor hath it entered into
the heart of any man to conceive the great and good things, which GOD
hath prepared for his people here; much less, those infinitely greater
and more glorious things, that he hath laid up for them that fear him,
in the eternal world: but, blessed be GOD! though we are not yet in
heaven, unless to be in CHRIST may properly be termed heaven, and then
all real christians are there already; yet, the blessed JESUS has been
pleased to leave upon record some account of himself, of what happened
to him in the days of his flesh, and of some manifestations he was
pleased to grant to a few of his disciples; that from what happened
to them here below, we may form some faint, though but a faint idea
of that happiness that awaits his people in his kingdom above. If any
of you enquire, in what part of our LORD’s life those instances are
recorded, I have an answer ready: One of these instances, and that a
very remarkable one, is recorded in the verses that I have now chosen
for the subject of your meditation.
The verses give us an account of what is generally called our LORD’s
_Transfiguration_; his being wonderfully changed, and his being
wonderfully owned by his Father upon the mount. Some think that this
was done upon a sabbath-day; and the particular occasion of our blessed
LORD’s condescending to let his servants have such a sight as this,
we may gather from the 27th verse. It seems our blessed LORD had been
promising a great reward to those who should not be ashamed of him:
“Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the
Son of Man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and of
his Father, and of the holy angels.” In this threatening is implied,
a reward to those who should not be ashamed of him: “But, (adds he) I
tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, who shall not taste
of death, till they see the kingdom of GOD:” As much as to say, There
will be a day, when I will come in the glory of my Father and of his
holy angels; but I tell you there are some of my favourites; I tell you
of a truth, though you may think it too good news, there are some of
you that shall not taste of death, till ye shall see the kingdom of
GOD. Some divines think, that this promise has reference to our LORD’s
erecting a gospel church; and if we take it in this sense, it means
that the Apostles, who were then present, some of them at least, should
not die, till they saw Satan’s kingdom in a great measure pulled down,
and the Redeemer’s gospel-kingdom erected. Some think it has a peculiar
reference to _John_, who it seems survived all the other Apostles, and
lived till CHRIST came; that is, till he came to destroy _Jerusalem_.
But it is the opinion of Mr. _Henry_, of Bishop _Hall_, of _Burkit_,
and others, who have written upon this passage, that our blessed LORD
has a peculiar reference to the transfiguration upon the mount: “There
be some of you here, that shall not taste of death, till ye see my
transfiguration upon the mount; till ye see some glorified saint come
down from heaven and pay me a visit, and consequently see a little
of that kingdom of GOD, which ye shall have a full sight of, when ye
come to glory.” This seems to be the right interpretation. If you will
look to the margin of your Bibles, you will see the parallel place in
_Matthew_, where the account of our LORD’s transfiguration is given,
and there you will find it immediately follows upon this promise of our
LORD.
Well, as CHRIST had told them, that they should not taste of death,
till they had seen the kingdom of GOD, why the Evangelist, at the
28th verse, tells us, “It came to pass about an eight days after these
sayings, he took _Peter_, and _John_, and _James_, and went up into
a mountain to pray.” About an eight days; that is, as Bishop _Hall_
thinks, upon the sabbath-day; or, according to some, the first day of
the week, which was hereafter to be the christian sabbath; our blessed
LORD takes _Peter_, _John_, and _James_: Why did not the LORD JESUS
CHRIST take more of his disciples? Why three, and these three? And why
three only? Our blessed LORD was pleased to take three and no more, to
show us that he is a sovereign agent; to show us, that though he loved
all his disciples, yet there are some to whom he is pleased to allow
peculiar visits. He loved _Peter_, and all the other disciples; yet
_John_ was the disciple that he peculiarly loved. And he took three
rather than one, because three were sufficient to testify the truth
of his being transfigured: “Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word shall be established.” And he took no more than three,
because these three were enough. And he took these three, _Peter_,
_John_, and _James_, in particular, because these very persons
that were now to see CHRIST transfigured, were hereafter to see him
agonizing in the garden, sweating great drops of blood falling unto the
ground. And had not these three disciples seen CHRIST upon the mount,
the seeing him afterwards in the garden, might have staggered them
exceedingly: they might have doubted whether it was possible for the
Son of GOD to be in such doleful circumstances. Well, our LORD takes
these three “up into a mountain.” Why so? Because CHRIST JESUS was to
be like _Moses_, who was taken up into a mountain, when GOD intended
to deliver unto him the moral law: And our blessed LORD went up into a
mountain, because a mountain befriended devotion. When he had a mind to
retire to pray to his Father, he went to such places where he could be
most secret, and give the greatest vent to his heart. Thus we are told,
that once when _Peter_ prayed, it was upon the house-top. And if we
have a mind to be near GOD, we should choose such places as are freest
from ostentation, and that most befriend our communion with GOD. ♦And
what doth CHRIST, when he got up into a mountain? We are told, he went
up into a mountain “to pray.” CHRIST had no corruption to confess, and
he had but few wants of his own to be relieved; yet we hear of CHRIST
being much in prayer; we hear of his going up to a mountain to pray;
of his rising up a great while before it was day to pray; and of his
spending a whole night in prayer to GOD.
♦ “Aud” replaced with “And”
In the 29th verse, you have an account of the effect of our LORD’s
praying; “As he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered,
and his raiment was white and glistering.” I would have you take
notice, that our LORD was not changed in respect of his body, while
he was going up to the mount, but when he got upon the mount, and
while engaged in prayer. It is sufficient that way for our souls to be
transformed: the time we are more particularly to expect the influences
of GOD’s Spirit, is, when we are engaged in prayer. There seems to be a
very great propriety in our LORD’s being transfigured or changed upon
the mount. I hope I need inform none of you, that when _Moses_ went up
to the mount of GOD, GOD was pleased to speak to him face to face; and
when he came down from the mount, the people of _Israel_ observed that
_Moses_’s face shone so, that he was obliged to have a veil put upon
his face. Now the shining of _Moses_’s face, was a proof to the people,
that _Moses_ had been conversing with GOD. And _Moses_ told the people,
“That the LORD would raise up unto them a prophet like unto him, whom
the people were to hear.” GOD the Father, in order to give his Son
(considering him as man) a testimony that he was a prophet, was pleased
not only to let his face glitter or shine; but to show that he was a
prophet far superior to _Moses_, he was pleased to let his garment be
white and glistering, and “his countenance (as we are told by another
Evangelist) did shine as the sun.” What a change was here! What a
sight! Methinks I see _Peter_, _James_, and _John_ surprized: and,
indeed, well might the Evangelist, considering what happened, usher in
the following part of the story with the word _Behold_; “Behold, there
talked with him two men, _Moses_ and _Elias_:” And in the 31st verse,
you have an account of their dress, “They appeared in glory;” and of
their discourse, “They spake of his decease which he should accomplish
at _Jerusalem_.”
“Behold, two men, which were _Moses_ and _Elias_;” these were two very
proper persons to come upon this embassy to the Son of GOD. _Moses_ was
the great lawgiver, _Elias_ was the great restorer of the law: The body
of _Moses_ was hidden and never found, _Elias_’s body was translated
immediately, and carried up in a fiery chariot to heaven: And it may
be that this was done particularly, because these two were hereafter
to have the honour of waiting upon the Son of GOD. “They appeared in
glory;” that is, their bodies were now in that glorious habit, in which
the bodies of believers are to be at the morning of the resurrection.
CHRIST was, as it were, now sitting in his royal robes; and as it is
usual for ambassadors, when they are to be admitted into the king’s
presence, on bringing a message from one king to another, to appear
in all their grandeur, to make the message more solemn; so here, these
heavenly messengers being to wait upon the LORD JESUS CHRIST, are
invested as with royal dignity, they appeared in glory, and “they spake
of his decease which he should accomplish at _Jerusalem_,” they came to
tell the Redeemer of his sufferings, and of the place of his sufferings,
and to acquaint him, that his sufferings, however great, however bitter,
were to be _accomplished_; that there was to be an end put to them, as
our LORD himself speaks, “The things concerning me are to have an end.”
What other particulars they spoke to our LORD, we are not told. But
what effect this had upon the disciples, you may learn from the 32d
verse, “_Peter_, and they that were with him, were heavy with sleep.”
We are not to suppose, that _Peter_, _James_ and _John_, were now
asleep in a literal sense; no, if we compare this, with another passage
of holy writ, I mean the account given us of _Daniel_’s being impressed
and overcome, when he saw the angel of the LORD, you will find that
this sleep implies what we call a swoon. They were overcome with the
sight of the glory of CHRIST’s garments, the glistering of his body,
and the glory in _Moses_ and _Elias_ appeared: these quite overcame
them, sunk them down, and, like the Queen of _Sheba_, when she saw
_Solomon_’s glory, they had no life in them. But they recovered
themselves: “when they were awake,” that is, when they had recovered
their strength, when GOD had put strength into them, as the angel put
strength into _Daniel_, “they saw his glory, and the two men that stood
with him.” And how do you think they gazed upon CHRIST? how may we
suppose they fixed their eyes upon _Moses_ and _Elias_? _Peter_, who
was always the first speaker, out of the abundance of his heart, spoke
upon this occasion. Verse 33. “And it came to pass as they departed
from him, _Peter_ said unto JESUS, Master, it is good for us to be here;
and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for _Moses_,
and one for _Elias_, not knowing what he said.” _Peter_, when he had
drank a little of CHRIST’s new wine, speaks like a person intoxicated;
he was overpowered with the brightness of the manifestation. “Let us
make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for _Moses_, and one
for _Elias_.” It is well added, “not knowing what he said.” That ♦he
should cry out, “Master, it is good for us to be here,” in such good
company, and in so glorious a condition, is no wonder; which of us all
would not have been apt to have done the same? But to talk of building
tabernacles, and one for CHRIST, and one for _Moses_, and one for
_Elias_, was saying something for which _Peter_ himself must stand
reproved. Surely, _Peter_, thou wast not quite awake! thou talkest like
one in a dream: If thy LORD had taken thee at thy word, what a poor
tabernacle wouldst thou have had, in comparison of that house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens, in which thou hast long since dwelt,
now the earthly house of the tabernacle of thy body is dissolved? What!
build tabernacles below, and have the crown, before thou hast borne
the cross? O _Peter, Peter_! “Master, spare thyself,” sticks too too
closely to thee: And why so selfish, _Peter_? Carest thou not for
thy fellow disciples that are below, who came not up with thee to the
mount? carest thou not for the precious souls, that are as sheep having
no shepherd, and must perish for ever, unless thy Master descends from
the mount to teach, and to die for them? wouldst thou thus eat thy
spiritual morsels alone? Besides, if thou art for building tabernacles,
why must there be three of them, one for CHRIST, and one for _Moses_,
and one for _Elias_? are CHRIST and the prophets divided? do they not
sweetly harmonize and agree in one? did they not prophesy concerning
the sufferings of thy LORD, as well as of the glory that should follow?
Alas, how unlike is their conversation to thine? _Moses_ and _Elias_
came down to talk of suffering, and thou art dreaming of building I
know not what tabernacles. Surely, _Peter_, thou art so high upon the
mount, that thy head runs giddy.
♦ “she” replaced with “he”
However, in the midst of these infirmities, there was something that
bespoke the honesty and integrity of his heart. Though he knew not very
well what he said, yet he was not so stupid as his pretended successor
at _Rome_. He does not fall down and worship these two departed saints,
neither do I hear him say to either, _Ora pro nobis_; he had not so
learnt CHRIST; no, he applies himself directly to the head, “he said
unto JESUS, Master, it is good for us to be here.” And though he
was for building, yet he would not build without his Master’s leave.
“Master, let us build,” or, as St. _Mark_ words it, “wilt thou that
we build three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for _Moses_, and
one for _Elias_?” I do not hear him add, and one for _James_, and one
for _John_, and one for _Peter_. No, he would willingly stay out with
them upon the mount, though it was in the cold and dark night, so that
CHRIST and his heavenly attendants were taken care of. The sweetness
of such a heavenly vision, would more than compensate for any bodily
suffering that might be the consequence of their longer abode there:
nay farther, he does not desire that either CHRIST, or _Moses_, or
_Elias_, should have any trouble in building; neither does he say, let
my curates, _James_ and _John_, build, whilst I sit idle and lord it
over my brethren; but he says, “let us build;” he will work as hard, if
not harder than either of them, and desire to be distinguished only by
his activity, enduring hardness, and his zeal to promote the welfare of
their common LORD and Master.
Doubtless, _Peter_ had read how the glory of the LORD filled the
tabernacle, and the temple of old; and now JESUS is transfigured,
and _Moses_ and _Elias_ appear in glory, he thinks it right that new
tabernacles shall be erected for them. Such a mixture of nature and
grace, of short-sightedness and infirmity, is there in the most ardent
and well-meant zeal of the very best of men, when nearest the throne
of grace, or even upon the mount with GOD. Perfection in any grace must
be looked for, or expected, only among the spirits of just men made
perfect in heaven. Those who talk of any such thing on earth, like
_Peter_, they know not what they say.
But how came _Peter_ so readily to distinguish which was _Moses_, and
which was _Elias_? He seems to speak without the least hesitation, “Let
us build three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for _Moses_, and one
for _Elias_,” as though he was very well acquainted with them, whereas
they had both been dead, long, long before _Peter_ was born. Was there,
do you imagine, any thing distinguishing in their apparel? or any
thing in their conversation that discovered them? or rather, did he not
know them here on the mount, as we may from hence infer, that departed
saints do, and will know each other in heaven, even by intuition and
immediate revelation? But alas! how transient are our views of heaven,
during our sojourning here on earth: Verse 34. “Whilst he thus spake,”
whilst _Peter_ was talking of building tabernacles, whilst he was
saying, “it is good for us to be here,” whilst he was dreaming that
his mountain was so strong that it never could be moved, “there came a
cloud and overshadowed them.” St. _Matthew_ observes, it was a bright
cloud, not dark like that on mount _Sinai_, but bright, because the
gospel opens to us a far more bright dispensation than that of the law.
This overshadowed, and thereby not only filled them with an holy awe,
but also screened them, in some measure, from the brightness of that
glory with which they were now surrounded, and which otherwise would
have been insupportable. This cloud was like the veil thrown on the
face of _Moses_, and prepared them for the voice which they were soon
to hear coming out of it. I am not much surprized at being informed by
St. _Matthew_, that “they feared as they entered into the cloud,” or by
St. _Mark_, that “they were sore afraid.” For since the fall, there is
such a consciousness in us all of deserved wrath, that we cannot help
fearing when we enter into a cloud, even though JESUS CHRIST himself
be in the midst of it. Ah _Peter_, where is thy talk of building
tabernacles now? is thy strong mountain so quickly removed? what, come
down so soon? why do we not now hear thee saying, “It is good for us to
be here?” Alas! he and his fellow disciples are quite struck dumb; see
how they tremble, and, like _Moses_ upon another occasion, exceedingly
quake and fear. But how quickly are those fears dispelled, how soon is
the tumult of their minds hushed and calmed, with that soul-reviving
voice that came from the excellent glory, verse 35, “This is my beloved
Son, hear him.”
St. _Mark_ and St. _Matthew_ add “in whom I am well pleased.” The same
testimony that GOD the Father gave to the blessed JESUS at his baptism,
before he entered upon his temptation, is now repeated, in order to
strengthen and prepare him for his impending agony in the garden.
Probably, it was a small still though articulate voice, attended
neither with thunder nor lightning, nor the sound of a trumpet, but,
agreeable to the blessed news which it contained, ushered in with
tokens of unspeakable complacency and love. GOD the Father, hereby
gives _Moses_ and _Elias_ a solemn discharge, as though they were
sent from heaven on purpose to give up their commission to their
rightful LORD, and like the morning star, disappear when the Sun of
Righteousness himself arises to bring in a gospel day. “This is my
beloved Son, hear Him.” But the emphasis upon the word _this_; this
Son of Man, this JESUS, whom you are shortly to see in a bloody sweat,
blindfolded, spit upon, buffeted, scourged, and at length hanging upon
a tree, I am not ashamed to own to be my Son, my only begotten Son,
who was with me before the heavens were made, or the foundations of the
earth were laid; my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom my
soul delighteth, and whom I do by these presents, publicly constitute
and appoint to be the king, priest, and prophet of the church. “Hear
ye Him.” No longer look to _Moses_ or _Elias_, no longer expect to be
saved by the works of the law; but by the preaching and application of
the ever-blessed gospel. Hear ye him, so as to believe on, love, serve,
obey, and, if needs be, to die and lay down your very lives for him.
“Hear him;” hear what he hath to say, for he comes with a commission
from above. Hear his doctrine; hear him, so as to obey him; hear him,
so as to put in practice his precepts, and copy after his good example.
In the 36th verse, we have the close of this heavenly feast; “When the
voice was past, JESUS was found alone; and they kept it close, and told
no man in those days, any of those things which they had seen.” If we
compare this, with the account which the other Evangelists give of our
blessed LORD’s transfiguration, you will find this was done by CHRIST’s
order: _Peter_, _James_, and _John_, would otherwise have gone down
and told the whole world, that they had seen the LORD CHRIST upon the
mount of transfiguration; but our LORD ordered them to keep it silent.
Why so? If they had gone down from the mount, and told it to the other
disciples, it might have raised ill blood in the others; they might
have said, Why did our Master single out _Peter_, _James_, and _John_?
Why might not we have had the privilege of going up to the mount as
well as they? Had they said, that their LORD was transfigured, people
would not have believed them; they would have thought, that _Peter_,
_James_, and _John_ were only enthusiasts; but if they kept it till
after his resurrection, and he had broken the gates of death, for them
then to say, that they saw him upon the mount transfigured, would
corroborate the evidence.
I have thus paraphrased the words for your better understanding the
account the Evangelist gives of our blessed LORD’s transfiguration; but
I have not yet done; I have been speaking to your heads; the practical
part is yet to come. O that GOD may reach your hearts! And though,
according to order, I ought to begin with the practical inferences that
might be drawn from the first part; yet, I think it best to show you,
who are the people of GOD, especially you young converts, that have
honesty, but not much prudence, what instructions our LORD would here
have you to learn.
“When the voice was past, JESUS was found alone, and they kept it
close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had
seen.” There is nothing more common, when GOD vouchsafes communications
to a poor soul, than for the person that enjoys them, to go and tell
all that he has seen and felt, and often at improper seasons and to
improper persons. I remember that Mr. _Henry_ observes, “_Joseph_
had more honesty than he had policy, or else he would never have told
his brethren of his dreams.” Young christians are too apt to blunder
thus: I am sure it is a fault of which I have been exceedingly guilty,
speaking of things which, perhaps, had better been concealed; which
is a fault GOD’s people are too apt to fall into. Though it is good
for those that have seen CHRIST, and that have felt his love, to tell
others what GOD hath done for their souls; yet, however you may think
of it now, when you come down from the mount, and know yourselves a
little, ye will find reason often to hold your tongue. Young christians
are like children, to whom if you give a little money in their pocket,
they cannot be quiet till they have spent it upon something or other:
young christians, when they get a little of GOD, are ready to talk too
much of it. They should therefore beware, and know when to speak, and
when to be silent.
But, my dear friends, did our LORD JESUS CHRIST take _Peter_, _James_,
and _John_ into a mountain to pray? Are any of you fathers, mothers,
masters and mistresses of families? Learn then from hence to take
your children, your servants, and those that belong to you, from the
world, at certain times, and not only pray for them, but pray with them.
If CHRIST did thus, who had few wants of his own to be supplied, and
nothing to confess and lament over; if CHRIST was such a lover of
prayer, surely, you and I, who have so many wants to be supplied, so
many corruptions to mourn over; you and I should spend much time in
prayer. I do not say that you are to lock yourselves up in your closets,
and not mind your shops or farms, or worldly business; I only say, that
you should take care to husband all your time: and if you are GOD’s
children, you will frequently retire from the world, and seek a visit
from your GOD.
Was the LORD JESUS transformed or transfigured, while he was praying?
Learn hence, to be much in spiritual prayer. The way to have the
soul transformed, changed into, and made like unto GOD, is frequently
to converse with GOD. We say, a man is as his company. Persons by
conversing together, frequently catch each others tempers: and if you
have a mind to imbibe the divine temper, pray much. And as CHRIST’s
garments became white and glistering, so shall your souls get a little
of GOD’s light to shine upon them.
Did _Moses_ and _Elias_ appear in glory? Are there any old saints here?
I doubt not but there are a considerable number. And are any of you
afraid of death? Do any of you carry about with you a body that weighs
down your immortal soul? I am sure a poor creature is preaching to you,
that every day drags a crazy load along. But come, believers, come, ye
children of GOD, come, ye aged decrepid saints, come and trample upon
that monster death. As thou goest over yonder church-yard, do as I know
an old excellent christian in _Maryland_ did; go, sit upon the grave,
and meditate on thine own dissolution. Thou mayest, perhaps, have
a natural fear of dying: the body and the soul do not care to part
without a little sympathy and a groan; but O look yonder, look up to
heaven, see there thy JESUS, thy Redeemer, and learn, that thy body is
to be fashioned hereafter like unto CHRIST’s most glorious body; that
poor body which is now subject to gout and gravel, and that thou canst
scarce drag along; that poor body, which hinders thee so much in the
spiritual life, will ere long hinder thee no more: it shall be put into
the grave; but though it be sown in corruption, it shall be raised in
incorruption; though it is sown in dishonour, it shall be raised again
in glory. This consideration made blessed _Paul_ to cry out, “O death,
where is thy sting! O grave, where is thy victory!” Thy soul and body
shall be united together again, and thou shalt be “for ever with the
LORD.” Those knees of thine, which perhaps are hard by kneeling in
prayer; that tongue of thine, which hath sung hymns to CHRIST; those
hands of thine, which have wrought for GOD; those feet, which have
ran to CHRIST’s ordinances; shall all, in the twinkling of an eye,
be changed; and thou shalt be able to stand under an exceeding and an
eternal weight of glory. Come then, ye believers in CHRIST, look beyond
the grave; come, ye dear children of GOD, and however weak and sickly
ye are now, say, Blessed be GOD, I shall soon have a body strong, full
of vigour and of glory.
But as this speaks comfort to saints, it speaks terror to sinners,
to all persons that live and die out of CHRIST. It is the opinion of
Archbishop _Usher_, that as the bodies of the saints shall be glorified,
so the bodies of the damned shall be deformed. And if this be true,
alas! what a poor figure will the fine ladies cut, who die without a
CHRIST! What a poor figure will the fine gentleman cut in the morning
of the resurrection, that now dresses up his body, and at the same
time neglects to secure an interest in CHRIST and eternal happiness!
It is the opinion, likewise, of Archbishop _Usher_, that damned souls
will lose all the good tempers they had here; so that though GOD gave
unregenerate people a constitutional meekness, good nature, and courage,
for the benefit of the commonwealth; yet, the use of these things being
over, and they having died without CHRIST, and it being impossible
there will be an appearance of good in hell, their good tempers will be
for ever lost. If this be so, it is an awful consideration; and I think
persons who love their bodies, should also hence take care to secure
the welfare of their souls.
Did _Peter_ know which was _Moses_ and which _Elias_? Then I think,
and GOD be praised for it, it is plain from this and other passages
of scripture, that we shall know one another when we come to heaven.
_Dives_ knew _Lazarus_: “Father _Abraham_, send _Lazarus_:” And we are
told, “he saw _Lazarus_ sitting in _Abraham_’s bosom.” _Adam_ knew his
wife _Eve_; though cast into a deep sleep when GOD made her out of his
rib, yet, by a kind of intuition, he says, “This is bone of my bone,
and flesh of my flesh.” And it is on this account, that the Apostle,
speaking to the _Philippians_, says, “Ye are my joy and crown of
rejoicing, in the day of the LORD.” What comfort will this be to a
spiritual father! Says one, Here is the man, O LORD JESUS, that brought
my soul to taste of thy love; says another, This is the man, that
at such a time, and with such words, struck my heart: thou, O LORD,
knowest it. Then the spiritual father will rejoice over his children.
You that have met and have prayed together, sighed and sympathized
together, and told your temptations to one another, shall be for
ever with the LORD and with each other. There we shall see _Abraham_,
_Isaac_, and _Jacob_ sitting, with all the redeemed company; and we
shall know the names of every one mentioned in the book of GOD. O
blessed prospect! O blessed time! Who that thinks of this, of seeing
the Lamb sitting upon the throne, with all GOD’s people about him,
but must desire to go to heaven, and be for ever, for ever with the
LORD. And if there is such comfort for believers to know one another
in heaven, with what comfort may any of you, that have lost fathers,
mothers, or friends, think of them: we are parted for a little while,
but we shall see them again. My father died in CHRIST, my mother died
in the LORD, my husband, my wife, was a follower of JESUS; I shall see
them, though not now; I shall go to them, but they shall not return
to me! This may keep you from sorrowing as persons without hope; and
keep you from being so cruel, as to wish them to come down to this evil
world.
But O what a dreadful consideration is this for damned souls! I believe,
that as glorified spirits will know one another, so will damned souls
know one another too. And as the company of the blessed increases the
happiness of heaven, so the company of the damned will increase their
torments. What made _Dives_ to put up that petition? “I have five
brethren; send somebody to my father’s house to testify unto them, lest
they also come into this place of torment.” One would imagine at first
reading, that hell had made _Dives_ charitable, and that though he was
ill natured on earth, yet he had acquired some good nature in hell. No,
no, there is not a spark of good nature in the place of torment. But
_Dives_ knew, if his five brethren came there, they might say, We may
thank you, next to an evil heart, for coming hither; you made us drink
healths, till we were drunk; you taught us to game, to curse, to swear,
&c. He knew very well, that his five brethren being brought to hell
by his example, hell would be heated five times hotter to torment his
soul. One will cry out, Cursed be the day that ever I was companion
with such an one in sin; cursed be the day that ever we hearkened to
one another’s advice, and were allured by each others example to sin
against GOD.
But did a cloud overshadow _Peter_, _James_, and _John_? were heavenly
and divine visits here but short? Then wonder not, ye people of GOD,
if ye are upon the mount one hour, and down in the valley of the shadow
of death the next. There is nothing in the world more common, after
you have been in a good frame, than for a cloud to overshadow you.
We generally say, “It is good to be here,” and often make a CHRIST of
our graces; and therefore the LORD sends a cloud to overshadow us. But
never fear; GOD shall speak to you out of the cloud; GOD will reveal
himself to you; this cloud shall soon be gone; ere long we shall be in
heaven, and in that glory where no cloud can possibly reach us.
I can now only mention one thing more, and that is, Did the Father say,
“This is my beloved Son, hear him?” then let every one of our hearts
echo to this testimony given of CHRIST, “This is my beloved Saviour.”
Did GOD so love the world, as to send his only begotten Son, his well
beloved Son to preach to us? then, my dear friends, HEAR HIM. What GOD
said seventeen hundred years ago, immediately by a voice from heaven,
concerning his Son upon the mount, that same thing GOD says to you
immediately by his word, “Hear him.” If ye never heard him before, hear
him now. Hear him so as to take him to be your prophet, priest, and
your king; hear him, so as to take him to be your GOD and your all.
Hear him to-day, ye youth, while it is called to-day; hear him now,
lest GOD should cut you off before you have another invitation to hear
him; hear him while he cries, “Come unto me;” hear him while he opens
his hand and his heart; hear him while he knocks at the door of your
souls, lest you should hear him saying, “Depart, depart, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Hear him,
ye old and grey-headed, hear him, ye that have one foot in the grave;
hear him, I say; and if ye are dull of hearing, beg of GOD to open the
ears of your hearts, and your blind eyes; beg of GOD that you may have
an enlarged and a believing heart, and that ye may know what the LORD
GOD saith concerning you. GOD will resent it, he will avenge himself on
his adversaries, if you do not hear a blessed Saviour. He is GOD’s son,
he is GOD’s beloved son; he came upon a great errand, even to shed his
precious blood for sinners; he came to cleanse you from all sin, and to
save you with an everlasting salvation. Ye who have heard him, hear him
again; still go on, believe in and obey him, and by-and-by you shall
hear him saying, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” May GOD grant it to
you all, for the LORD JESUS CHRIST’s sake. _Amen_, and _Amen_.